Singer Justin Bieber arrives at the premiere of “Justin Bieber: Never say Never” in Los Angeles, California on February 8, 2011. (Photo credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images)
Neighbors 4 Neighbors
BOCA RATON (CBSMiami) – Pop sensation Justin Bieber made a stop in South Florida Friday, but this time it wasn’t to record a new album.
Bieber visited St. Andrew’s School in Boca Raton to congratulate three students who raised over $50,000 for one of his favorite charities, Pencils of Promise.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Briana Finocchiaro and her twin siblings, Angelia and Nicolas raised the money by asking family, friends, and neighbors in a web page they set up for the organization.
“Our family is so very blessed and we attend the most wonderful school,” wrote the Finocchiaro family on their site, the Sun Sentinel reported.”However, there are more than 75 million children without access to education. With your help, we can make a difference in their lives.”
Bieber has been a big supporter of the organization and has paid surprise visits to schools like St. Andrew’s that help raise money for the charity.
Bieber was accompanied by Adam Braun, who founded Pencils of Promise in October 2008 just before his 25th birthday, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
Braun got the idea when he was backpacking across six continents. In India, he met a boy and asked him what he wanted most. The boy replied, “a pencil,” according to Braun’s website.
The growing charity said it spends 86 percent of its contributions to program services and spending on international school builds increased six fold in 2010.
Brauns said he wanted to motivate other members of the millennial generation to help children who do not have access to basic education.
Twenty-five dollars helped create his organization and then he began fundraising.
In its first year, the group built three schools. Since then a total of 50 schools have been built through the charity.
The majority of donations have come in small amounts such as $15 and $25.
